The Flin Flon Bombers finally saw their season come to an end this past Wednesday at the Centennial Cup in Summerside PEI.
The Bombers went into the game against the Truro Bearcats needing to beat them by 5 goals to advance to the Centennial Cup playoff round.
Flin Flon went into the game 1-2 with losses to Longueil in their opening game 1 to 0 and the Toronto Patriots 7 to 2 before rebounding with a 6 to 4 win over the Sudbury Cubs.
With their backs against the wall, Flin Flon played their best game of the tournament and played a solid 60 minutes in prevailing by a score of 3 to 1.
Flin Flon scored two late first period goals with Reid Arberry and Ryder Knutson both finding the back of the net. Arberry scored his second of the tournament when he fired a shot over the right shoulder of Bearcats goalie Louca Connolly.
Knutson scored just 28 seconds later when he also went high on Connolly to give the Bombers the start they needed with a 2 to 0 lead after one. This was Knutson's first of the tournament.
Flin Flon continued to press but couldn't get any more pucks past Connolly despite out shooting the Bearcats 13 to 8 in the second period.
That would mean the Bombers were need to score three more times in the third , and hold Truro off the score sheet if they were going to be able to advance.
The Bombers came out flying and the electrifying Daniel Morozov scored Flin Flon's first powerplay goal of the tournament , when he snapped a low shot glove side on Louca Connolly.
Morozov was one of the Bombers top players in the tournament and it was nice to see him finally pot one and get the monkey off his back and put his team up 3 to 0.
Morozov scored his goal with over 8 minutes remaining in regulation and I thought with the way the Bombers were playing, they might actually pull this off.
Unfortunately even with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker, that is all the offense the Bombers could muster and ended up giving up an empty net goal in the 3 to 1 win.
This was Charlie Tritt's best game between the pipes as he did struggle in his last two games giving up 8 goals and vowed he would be better and he was. Tritt looked like the goalie who was the top netminder in the SJHL this past season who was also nominated for CJHL Goalie Of The Year.
Tritt stopped all 18 shots fired in his direction with Truro's only goal scored into the empty net courtesy Jake Todd.
With the win, the Bombers finish with a record of 2-2 and were tied with Toronto and Truro and that is why it came down to goals for and against. Flin Flon did get better as the tournament went on and it was disappointing not to see them move on to the Quarter Finals.
It won't take away from a sensational season that saw the Bombers pick up their first league championship in 33 years.
Head Coach and GM Mike Reagan summed up the season on the final CFAR Post Game Show on Wednesday. " I have coached a lot of good players and teams throughout the years but this group was very special and so determined. Everyone accepted their roles, even the guys that didn't get to play very much, sacrificing their own agendas for the good of the team. They were so determined even after that big losing streak in October. After we beat Yorkton 11 to 0 to snap that 6 game losing streak, we never missed a beat, got on the same page and went after this. I was so proud to coach this great group of young men and it feels so good to bring this Championship back to Flin Flon."
Flin Flon will graduate 8 players from this year's team including Reid Arberry, Maverick Deslisle, Pierce Yakimchuk, Xavier Fauchon, Ryder Knutson, Sam Ward, Charlie Tritt and four year local player Joey Lies.
All 8 players were very instrumental in this team's success, and good luck to all these fine men who represented the organization and community with class and hard work. You will be missed.
I also want to thank the tremendous fans, sponsors, billets, volunteers, board of directors and anyone else who had a hand in this season to remember.
Nothing beats the atmosphere of the Whitney Forum, and it was a pleasure to call games in front of the best hockey fans you will find anywhere. Bomber fans also made their presence felt on the road and even in the Centennial Cup there were a few hundred in attendance.
The Bomber fans were the topic of discussion at the Centennial Cup and Summerside embraced the electricity they brought to the tournament and building. They were by far the most passionate fans at the tournament and cheered for their team til the end.
The Bomber organization will enjoy the summer and prepare for their 100th year as a franchise including hosting the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremonies in September.
Once again A BIG THANK YOU to everyone for a season to rember and we will see you real soon. GO BOMBERS GO.
